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What is influenza?
Influenza, also called “the flu”, is caused by a virus that mainly affects the nose, throat, bronchial airways, and lungs. There are two types of flu that affect humans, types A and B. Either or both types can circulate in the United States each year during the fall and winter months, which is why it is called “seasonal flu”. Each type of flu virus has different strains, which change from year to year.
What are the symptoms of flu?
Flu can range from a very mild to serious, sometimes fatal illness. Symptoms may include fever of 100°F to 103°F (possibly higher in children), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and extreme tiredness. Less often nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can also occur, especially in children, however these symptoms are usually not the main problem. The term “stomach flu” is sometimes used to describe a different type of gastrointestinal illness (with symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting), but this is not the same as seasonal flu.
How is flu spread?
Flu is spread from person to person by respiratory droplets released during talking, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or singing. Touching an object that is contaminated with flu virus and then touching one’s own eyes, nose, or mouth can also spread flu. People are usually contagious from the day before their symptoms begin, and then continuing for up to one week.
How soon after exposure do symptoms of flu appear? How long does the illness last?
The incubation period, or the time from exposure to the first onset of symptoms, is from one to five days. Most people who have flu recover completely in one to two weeks, but sometimes the illness is serious with potentially life-threatening complications such as pneumonia. Each year the flu causes thousands of hospitalizations, and from 3,349 to 48,614 deaths in the United States.
How is flu diagnosed?
Healthcare providers may diagnose flu based on the symptoms along with evidence that flu virus has been laboratory confirmed in the same geographic area. A rapid test for flu may be performed in an outpatient clinic or office.
What is the treatment for flu?
Most people who get the flu are adequately treated with fluids and rest. Prescriptions are available to prevent or reduce the severity of flu, but some antiviral medications are only effective against type A flu virus. Antiviral drugs area best started within 48 hours of the beginning of symptoms to be effective. Antibiotics do not work against the flu virus and so will not help a person recover from the flu.
Who should get vaccinated this year in Oklahoma? All persons aged 6 months and older are recommended to receive the flu vaccine. People in certain categories are strongly encouraged to receive the flu vaccine due to their risk for flu-related complications or exposure of others. These categories are persons who: are ages 6 months—4 years (59 months); are ages 50 years and older; have chronic disorders such as pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic (including diabetes mellitus); are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus); are or will be pregnant during the flu season; are aged 6 months—18 years and receiving long-term aspirin therapy, and may be at risk for Reye syndrome after flu infection; are residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities; are American Indian/Alaska Native; are morbidly obese (body-mass index is 40 or greater); are health-care personnel; are household contacts and caregivers of children aged younger than 5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, especially contacts of children aged younger than 6 months; and are household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from flu.
2011-2012 Seasonal Flu Facts
Public Health
Fact Sheet
Public Health
Fact Sheet
Continued on other side

What is influenza?
Influenza, also called “the flu”, is caused by a virus that mainly affects the nose, throat, bronchial airways, and lungs. There are two types of flu that affect humans, types A and B. Either or both types can circulate in the United States each year during the fall and winter months, which is why it is called “seasonal flu”. Each type of flu virus has different strains, which change from year to year.
What are the symptoms of flu?
Flu can range from a very mild to serious, sometimes fatal illness. Symptoms may include fever of 100°F to 103°F (possibly higher in children), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and extreme tiredness. Less often nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can also occur, especially in children, however these symptoms are usually not the main problem. The term “stomach flu” is sometimes used to describe a different type of gastrointestinal illness (with symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting), but this is not the same as seasonal flu.
How is flu spread?
Flu is spread from person to person by respiratory droplets released during talking, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or singing. Touching an object that is contaminated with flu virus and then touching one’s own eyes, nose, or mouth can also spread flu. People are usually contagious from the day before their symptoms begin, and then continuing for up to one week.
How soon after exposure do symptoms of flu appear? How long does the illness last?
The incubation period, or the time from exposure to the first onset of symptoms, is from one to five days. Most people who have flu recover completely in one to two weeks, but sometimes the illness is serious with potentially life-threatening complications such as pneumonia. Each year the flu causes thousands of hospitalizations, and from 3,349 to 48,614 deaths in the United States.
How is flu diagnosed?
Healthcare providers may diagnose flu based on the symptoms along with evidence that flu virus has been laboratory confirmed in the same geographic area. A rapid test for flu may be performed in an outpatient clinic or office.
What is the treatment for flu?
Most people who get the flu are adequately treated with fluids and rest. Prescriptions are available to prevent or reduce the severity of flu, but some antiviral medications are only effective against type A flu virus. Antiviral drugs area best started within 48 hours of the beginning of symptoms to be effective. Antibiotics do not work against the flu virus and so will not help a person recover from the flu.
Who should get vaccinated this year in Oklahoma? All persons aged 6 months and older are recommended to receive the flu vaccine. People in certain categories are strongly encouraged to receive the flu vaccine due to their risk for flu-related complications or exposure of others. These categories are persons who: are ages 6 months—4 years (59 months); are ages 50 years and older; have chronic disorders such as pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic (including diabetes mellitus); are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus); are or will be pregnant during the flu season; are aged 6 months—18 years and receiving long-term aspirin therapy, and may be at risk for Reye syndrome after flu infection; are residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities; are American Indian/Alaska Native; are morbidly obese (body-mass index is 40 or greater); are health-care personnel; are household contacts and caregivers of children aged younger than 5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, especially contacts of children aged younger than 6 months; and are household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from flu.
2011-2012 Seasonal Flu Facts
Public Health
Fact Sheet
Public Health
Fact Sheet
Continued on other side